Serie A - Week 7: Sunday Review

Juventus and Sampdoria missed out on the chance to reclaim top spot in Serie A as the Old Lady were beaten 2-0 at Palermo and a draw wasn't enough for Samp. Elsewhere, AC Milan's stuttering start continued, Roma secured a comeback win and Genoa return to winning ways.

Palermo 2-0 Juventus
Palermo prevented Juventus from moving to the top of Serie A with a thoroughly deserved win at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on Sunday night. Edison Cavani put a vibrant Palermo ahead after 37 minutes before Fabio Simplicio sealed the win five minutes later. The Rosanero had a valid goal disallowed midway through the second half and could have gone on to score four or five, inspired by an industrious Fabrizio Miccoli, who himself hit the post late on. The win lifts Palermo up to 10th in the table while Juve remain third, two points behind joint leaders Inter and Sampdoria.

Sampdoria 1-1 Parma
Sampdoria missed the chance to return to the top of the Serie A table as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Parma at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Giampaolo Pazzini fired Samp in front midway through the first half, but the lead was cancelled out soon after by Daniele Galloppa. The point sees Luigi Del Neri's men move level on points with leaders Inter but behind on goal difference.

Atalanta 1-1 Milan
AC Milan coach Leonardo failed to ease the pressure on his shoulders following a 1-1 draw at 10-man Atalanta, who have yet to win this season. Atalanta took the lead on 21 minutes through Simone Tiribocchi, but had Ivan Radovanovic sent off for two bookable offences before half-time. After struggling to make a breakthrough, Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho came to Milan's rescue by firing home the equaliser with seven minutes to go. Two wins from their first seven games mean Milan are already well behind the Serie A pacesetters.

Roma 2-1 Napoli
Francesco Totti struck twice as Roma came from behind to beat Napoli 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico. The Roma captain scored his first after 37 minutes to cancel out Ezequiel Lavezzi's 25th-minute opener. Totti then grabbed the winner shortly after the hour mark and hand Napoli and their under-pressure coach Roberto Donadoni their fourth defeat on the road this season. The result marked Roma's fourth win of the campaign under Claudio Ranieri and lifts the Giallorossi to eighth in the standings.

Bologna 1-3 Genoa
Genoa ended a three-game drought with a 3-1 victory at Bologna, who were celebrating their 100th anniversary. Houssine Kharja and Giuseppe Sculli gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the interval, but they lost Giandomenico Mesto to a red card early in the second half and the home team responded. Marco Di Vaio pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after 85 minutes, but substitute Alberto Zapater sealed the win in the last minute.

Fiorentina 0-0 Lazio
Fiorentina blew the chance to grab a share of top spot in Serie A after being held to a goalless draw by Lazio despite television replays suggesting a late Alberto Gilardino effort had crossed the line. The Viola, who had beaten Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League five days earlier, largely dominated proceedings at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and seemed to have scored the all-important goal when Gilardino rounded Fernando Muslera and slotted towards the net before Stefan Radu got back to smuggle the shot clear. The result maintains Lazio's unbeaten record away from home this season.

Cagliari 1-2 Chievo
Cagliari's search for a first home victory in Serie A this season goes on after they lost 2-1 to Chievo. Alessandro Matri put the Sardinian outfit in front after 38 minutes but Michele Marcolini equalised three minutes later. Marcolini struck again in after 70 minutes to hand the visitors all three points. The result lifts the Flying Donkeys to sixth in the Serie A standings and extends their unbeaten run to five games. Cagliari have now lost their third straight game at the Stadio Sant' Elia.

Siena 0-0 Livorno
Siena failed to make the most of a golden opportunity to claim their first home win of the season as they were held to a goalless draw by basement boys Livorno. The hosts, who began the game two points and three places above their rivals, largely dominated proceedings and seemed certain to take all three points when Davide Marchini saw red after 38 minutes for a foul on Massimo Maccarone inside the penalty area. But the striker saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Alfonso De Lucia and it was a similar story in the second half for Siena as the Livorno goalkeeper earned his side a precious point.

SERIE A REVIEW:
[Saturday 3 October] - [Sunday 4 October]